Three beguiling structures in black-painted wood and red cedar rise up from the wetlands of Wentworth-Nord. Inspired by barns scattered across rural tracts in North America, the two main houses and the storage building play with the iconic peaked roof, carving into it and multiplying it in imaginative ways. A section of roof is excised here to create a semi-shaded terrace, and a wall of cladding is stripped away there for a majestic window wall. The 604-square-metre complex is connected by a black-painted wooden plateau, which serves as a collective space for the occupants.

Maiden Tower
Location: Vorarlberg, Austria
Firm: Marte.Marte Architects, Weiler, Austria
Team: Bernhard Marte and Stefan Marte

Austrian architect Stefan Marte’s add-on to his family home contains three stacked bedrooms for his young daughters. The interiors of the Rapunzel-inspired structure match those of the main house, with simple birch plywood surfacing and minimal accoutrements. The Corten exterior stands in contrast, evoking a suit of armour wrapped around the all-glass east facade. The three damsels can climb down and walk through an underground passage to reach the main house, or run outside and splash around in the Corten pool. marte‑marte.­com

Redux house
Location: São Paulo, Brazil
Firm: StudioMK27, São Paulo
Team: Marcio Kogan and Samanta Cafardo with Suzana Glogowski, Beatriz Meyer, Oswaldo Pessano and Mariana Ruzante

In a gated community on the edge of a forest, this home rests on a plinth, like a captivating object for display. Sandwiched between the floor slab and the ceiling, four boxes house the private areas, tucked behind vertical wooden slats; and the public zones, encased in sliding glass panels. The spaces between these enclosures create open yet intimate corridors. A gently cantilevered concrete deck and pool add further drama. ­marciokogan.­com.­br